Hitching-strap and buckle therefor



(No Model.)

O. W. BECK.

HI'I'GHING STRAP AND BUCKLE THEREFOR. No. 347,082. Patented Aug. 10,1886.

N. PETERS, Plwlo-Lilhngmphen Washinglun. \lc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WILLIAM BECK, OF JOLIET, ILLINOIS.

HlTCHlNG-STRAP AND BUCKLE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 347,082, dated August 10,1886.

Application filed March 12, 1886. Serial No.194,995. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES WILLIAM BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at J oliet, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hitching-Straps and Buckles Therefor, of which the following is a specification, to wit: This invention relates to an improvement in hitching-straps and buckles therefor; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the same, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which I have repre sented a hitching-strap in condition for use.

a represents a strap or band, of leather or other suitable material, to each end of which I have secured an ordinary snap-hook, a, as shown in the drawing. Upon the strap, near one end, is a slide, b, consisting of a square or rectangular frame having three crossbars, as shown, and the strap or band is passed under one and over the next crossbar. These bars are far enough apart to give the band or strap a free movement, sliding to and from the end of the strap, as desired. Near the other end of the strap or band is a buckle, b, consisting of a frame having four crossbars, and three of these are placed so close together that when the band is passed through the buckle and back again, as in the drawing, it is so sharply bent and clamped that the buckle cannot be moved by strain upon it, but is held firmly in place when desired. One of the end bars is formed with a greaterv space between itself and the next one to accommodate the snap-hook, which is engaged with it, as illustrated. Thehooks upon the strap are engaged with their adjacent clasps or slides,

and that next the buckle b forms the neckloop, to encircle the neck of the animal, and cannot be tightened upon and choke it, becausethe buckle can only be moved by pushing one end of the strap through and then pulling up the slack so formed from the opposite slide, 2). The other slide moves readily under strain, and when looped around the post or other object this slides up and holds tighter when strained. In any case the slide b will be made with more space between its bars than the buckle b, so that it may slide freely under light strains, while the buckle is always held firmly in place under strain. It is not neces sary that snap-hooks should be used, as the ends of the strap may be permanently secured to the slides. The buckle b is also well adapted for use as a suspenderbuckle, and I desire to apply it to this or any other use to which it is applicable.

It will be understood at once that neither the slide b nor buckle b is provided with any teeth or projections of any kind to engage or impinge upon the strap, but that these pieces are smooth, and depend for their effect Wholly upon their deflection of the strap from astraight line. This deflection, in the case of the buckle b,is so sharp and quick as to render any movement of the same under strains impossible, while in the case of the slide b the deflection is only sufficiently sudden to prevent any accidental displacement, and allows the slide to be moved readily when desirable, or when any strain is put upon the strap, and thus the whole forms an efficient hitching device that may be depended upon not to choke the animal, or accidentally become loosened byits uneasy motions.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a hitching device, the combination, with the strap to, having a snap-hook on each end, of the adjustable buckle b, formed with a series of closely-arranged bars to sharply deflect and firmly hold thestrap,and the slide b,forn1ed with bars of more open nature, and grasping the strap only tight enough to prevent accidental displacement, substantially as shown and described. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES WM. BECK.

WVitnesses: CHARLES EVERT, F. A. J ACKSON. 

